A charming Basel institution: wooden ferries with no motor, strung from an overhead cable and driven purely by the river current as the ferryman angles a rudder. The Münster ferry ('Leu') gives the single best on-the-water view of the red-sandstone cathedral rising off the bank. It's under two francs, runs all day, and is the most authentically local way to touch the Rhine in five minutes flat.
What to expect
You'll walk from the pier into Basel's Old Town, find your way to the Münster ferry dock, and step aboard the Leu—a wooden cable ferry with no motor. As you push off, the Rhine's current does the work while the ferryman tilts the rudder to angle across; in five minutes of gentle drift, you'll have an unobstructed view of the cathedral's red-sandstone walls rising sheer from the opposite bank, one of the finest vantage points on the water. You can linger on deck, photograph, or simply stand in the current's rhythm—then either cross back or continue exploring the far bank before returning to the ship.
Good to know
The ferry runs all day with no booking required; pay the ferryman onboard (CHF 1.60 adults, CHF 0.80 children). Factor 45–60 minutes door-to-door from the pier to the Leu dock, plus 5–10 minutes on the water, leaving comfortable buffer time in a 6–8 hour port window. Bring cash in Swiss francs or euros; no card readers are posted. Pair this with a free Pfalz-terrace walk on either bank above the cathedral for a complete local experience without booking ahead.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Basel — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Basel
- Float the Rhine through the medieval Old Town with a Wickelfisch dry-bag
- Climb the Basel Minster towers for the Rhine-and-three-countries view
- Fondation Beyeler -- the world-class modern-art pilgrimage in a Renzo Piano park
- Vitra Campus -- walk between Gehry, Hadid, Ando & Herzog buildings in one afternoon
- Scenic Rhine city-and-port cruise aboard a classic Basel riverboat